The Scourging of Christ, commissioned for the church of Santa Maria in Monticelli, established the international reputation of French painter Jean-Baptiste van Loo. Born in Aix-en-Provence in 1684, he developed his craft through an extensive European circuit that included commissions in Toulon, Rome, Turin, Paris, and London before his eventual return to his birthplace.
Early Career and Southern France
Instruction in the arts began under the guidance of his father, Louis-Abraham van Loo, who was the son of Jacob van Loo. During his youth, the painter completed various decorative projects for churches and public buildings throughout Aix-en-Provence. His career in the south saw an abrupt interruption in 1707 when the siege of Toulon forced his departure from that city.
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Emmanuel Philibert, Prince of Carignano, provided the patronage necessary to facilitate a move to Rome. There, van Loo studied under the tutelage of Benedetto Luti, producing religious works for local churches. His success expanded to Turin, where he painted Charles Emmanuel II, Duke of Savoy, along with several members of the ducal court.
Parisian Recognition and English Commissions
After relocating to Paris, he gained election to the Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture. His Parisian tenure included executing altar-pieces and restoring the works of Francesco Primaticcio at the Palace of Fontainebleau. In 1737, he traveled to England, where he produced notable portraits of Colley Cibber, Owen McSwiny, Sir Robert Walpole, and the Prince and Princess of Wales. John Faber the Younger engraved many of these subjects in mezzotint.
Final Years
Health issues compelled van Loo to limit his practice in England. He retired to Paris in 1742 and subsequently returned to Aix-en-Provence. He died on 19 December 1745. His artistic legacy includes numerous portraits characterized by forcible coloring and faithful, if unflattering, likenesses. His students included John Giles Eccardt, and his descendants, including sons Louis-Michel and Charles-Amédée-Philippe, continued the family tradition in the arts.
Fast facts
- Born: 1684, Aix-en-Provence
- Died: 19 December 1745, Aix-en-Provence
- Primary Occupation: Painter
- Key Memberships: Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture
- Active Locations: London, Paris, Rome, Turin, Genoa, Toulon, Aix-en-Provence
- Notable Works: Scourging of Christ, portrait of Sir Robert Walpole
Questions readers ask
Where can the portrait of Sir Robert Walpole be viewed?
It is held in the National Portrait Gallery, London.
Did Jean-Baptiste van Loo have family members who were also painters?
Yes, his younger brother Charles-André van Loo and his sons Louis-Michel van Loo and Charles-Amédée-Philippe van Loo were painters.
